Per week handed. Thankfully, nobody had adopted him suspiciously, and he hadn’t run into the Apostle by chance. I used to be again to my regular routine earlier than I realised Simeon was Heo-sang. There was nothing extra I may ask for than a peaceable day of commissioned work.

[Do you deliver?]

As normal, the order got here by means of open chat.

[Yes, as long as the contents aren’t dangerous].

[It’s an ordinary bouquet].

[Then it would be cheaper to just use a flower delivery company].

[I don’t want people to know who I am, can’t you?]

Little did I do know on the time. That this could be the start of a nasty relationship.

[No. I can. Just tell me where you want me to deliver them.]

To be trustworthy, I used to be suspicious. There’s no motive for somebody to pay me a number of instances greater than the common vendor for a easy bouquet supply, so I saved my eyes peeled as I made my technique to the native storage facility the place the consumer had left the bundle. On the slightest trace of suspicion, I’d run away.

The subway was enterprise as normal. Even the bouquets of flowers within the cloakroom had been unremarkable. It was nonetheless a good distance from summer season, however inside this sq. metal container had been blue hydrangeas in full bloom.

As I rigorously eliminated it, I seen a observe taped to the bouquet.

[Dearly Beloved]

The cautious handwriting and the candy odor of fragrance on the observe gave me a way of foreboding.

“This will’t be… an affair?”

All of the sudden, I understood why they’d entrusted me with the key, quite than the seller. Shoppers who spend some huge cash and wish to ship items anonymously are often having an affair. I’ve been operating errands for a very long time.

[I checked your stuff, I’ll be there in 30 minutes].

I texted the consumer, obtained again within the automobile, and plugged the deal with into my Navi. He wished the flowers delivered to a business constructing in Songdo. I hope I didn’t get right into a love affair for nothing…. I stepped on the accelerator, apprehensive as ever.

After about half-hour within the automobile, I began to see skyscrapers within the distance.

“Is that it….”

Ding-ding.

The automobile beeped, saying that I had reached my vacation spot. I nonetheless had my doubts, so I parked the automobile reverse a shopping center and gently rolled down the window. I may see a 10-storey constructing behind the workplace staff popping out for lunch.

It was the primary flooring of that constructing the place the consumer had requested me to ship.

“Huh…?”

However the whole first flooring was a flower store. I double-checked my texts to verify I wasn’t mistaken, however the location was appropriate. So I’m giving flowers to a florist? Effectively, there’s no legislation that claims you’ll be able to’t get a cake from a pastry chef, however it was bizarre.

I shoved my cellphone into my pocket and punctiliously picked up the bouquet of hydrangeas on the passenger as if it had been a child. I closed the automobile door and obtained out, ready for the stroll sign to vary. There have been fairly a couple of clients coming and going. Apparently, I used to be very suspicious.

As quickly as I crossed the pedestrian crossing and entered the store, I greeted the part-time pupil who was tending to the potted crops.

“Howdy, I’ve a flower supply for you.”

“Flowers…?”

The part-time employee’s eyes widened.

She was most likely solely about twenty years outdated, her lengthy uncooked hair tied again in a bun, and her pale pink chiffon costume swayed like petals. She appeared like a florist in a romantic drama.

“Are you able to inform me who despatched it?”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you know that.”

Apparently, the bouquet wasn’t for her, however for the boss, who wasn’t right here, so she couldn’t inform him.

“Is it for the boss….”

Muttering to herself, the part-time pupil frowned in confusion.

“I’m sorry, however may you wait inside for a second? The boss has to obtain the reward in particular person, in any other case we’ll get in bother….”

I left as quickly as I used to be carried out. If I stayed too lengthy, I’d simply get bothered. I used to be going to do the identical this time, however I couldn’t put the fidgety part-timer in any extra bother.

“Positive, positive.”

“Thanks!”

The part-time pupil put down the dishcloth she was utilizing to scrub the crops and led me to the again of the store. I didn’t know if it was a relaxation space or a spot to welcome clients with appointments, however it was cozy sufficient.

Once I was standing a long way from the door, she gestured for me to sit down on the couch.

“Make your self snug and wait.”

She smiled softly, and I couldn’t resist, so I took a seat on the sofa. As she set the bouquet down on the desk, a candy scent wafted by means of the air. It was not a floral scent, however one thing surprisingly synthetic, just like the odor of her fragrance.

The place had I smelled this earlier than? As I contemplated, she poured me a cup of sizzling tea.

“Please drink this for some time. I’ll name the boss as quickly as I can.”

“Thanks.”

In some way, I’d been handled to tea.

After the part-time pupil quietly closed the door and left, I remained alone within the break room and picked up the mug. As I stirred the recent tea and took a sip, I tasted a peculiar flavour that was neither inexperienced nor black tea. It have to be a classy tea leaf. I grimaced on the bitter style on the basis of my tongue and picked up my cell phone. I needed to let my consumer know the way issues had been going.

[I’ve delivered the flowers, but I sure the recipient will want to know who sent them, is that okay?]

I used to be about to ship the textual content and make myself a cup of tea when all of a sudden a cellphone beeped within the room. I put my cup down and go to the supply of the sound, and there’s another person’s cellphone subsequent to the water dispenser. It appeared like a part-time pupil had left it behind on his technique to the automobile.

Wait a minute. Didn’t she say she was going to name the boss? If she left her cellphone behind, I don’t know the way she’s going to achieve him. I tapped the display, simply in case, and the newest textual content popped up.

[I’ve delivered the flowers, but I’m sure the recipient will want to know who sent them, is that okay?]

It was a textual content I had simply despatched to a consumer.

What the hell? Why did a textual content from a consumer to a part-time employee…. Does that imply she’s the consumer? Let’s say you gave in and acquired your self a bouquet of flowers, however why did you faux to not discover them? That’s when your suspicions snowballed.

“Ugh…!”

All of the sudden, a extreme dizziness hit me and my imaginative and prescient spun. I misplaced my steadiness, spun round, and tripped over the sofa. I grabbed the desk and tried to rise up, however my entire physique was weak. My abdomen was churning, and all the things was rippling.

All of the sudden, I remembered the automobile the part-time pupil gave me a experience in. A lure. It will need to have been drugged as a result of it tasted surprisingly bitter. It’s Nabal, and I have to get out of right here by some means. I crawl to the door, barely in a position to transfer my arm, and the deal with turns.

Creak.

“Oh my.”

The part-time pupil who opened the door lined her mouth in shock when she noticed me on the ground. However I quickly realised it was an act. The corners of her mouth, seen between her fingers, had been tracing elongated arcs.

“Simply lie there for some time. The boss will probably be right here quickly.”

“Why… would you do that….”

“Don’t you actually know?”

I felt an unfamiliar contact as I reached out and grabbed her ankle. It felt nothing just like the contact of residing flesh. It was chilly and laborious, like touching an iron pillar.

All of the sudden, I remembered one thing from a couple of days in the past. Hunter, her black frilly costume fluttering, placing Salamander along with her silver prosthetic leg. She was sporting a masks, however I remembered her clearly. That’s why I can’t assist however get goosebumps.

She was frighteningly similar to the one in entrance of me now.

“Apos…tle?”

I muttered in a shaky voice, and he or she smiled flippantly.

“You’d higher be quiet, my boss was very a lot wanting ahead to assembly you.”

The boss…. is the one particular person she’ll ever use a title for.

“Oh, you’re right here. I did as you requested.”

As she backs away, shaking off my contact, I hear a knock on the door. Footsteps strategy, sluggish and leisurely, identical to those I heard at the hours of darkness alley. As quickly as I see a protracted shadow on the ground, a shiver runs down my backbone. I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s as a result of I’m afraid of what’s about to occur or as a result of I’m completely happy to see him after so lengthy.

The following second, he’s down on one knee in entrance of me, and he stays that manner for a protracted, silent second earlier than all of a sudden reaching out and grabbing my chin. The power of his hand lifting my face from the ground was unnerving.

He clicked his tongue and whispered in my ear as I struggled to regulate my drugged physique.

“Why are you so nervous?”

A low, rumbling voice snapped me out of my reverie.

“Are you….”

“Are you scared? Are you afraid I’m going to do one thing dangerous?”

When my eyes lastly got here again into focus, I noticed a midwinter panorama. Pores and skin as pale because the daybreak sky, calm black hair, and chilly black eyes. The road that ran from his brow to the tip of his chin was nonetheless sharp and exquisite. Simply making eye contact with him despatched a chill down my backbone, like being buried in frost.

There is just one one that could make me really feel this fashion.

“You don’t know the way laborious I’ve been looking for you, Mr. Shin Ha-jae.”